Meat tenderizer



i 2 1941- A. s. WILSON 2,243,492

MEAT TENDERIZER Filed July 20, 1939 INVENTOR ALBERT 5. WILSON ATTORNEY ties of which will be hereinafter fully described Fig. 5, an elevation of one end of the machine and claimed. showing the worm gear driving mechanism and It has been the practice to pound slices of meat motor;

and also to puncture the meat with hammers hav- Fig. 6, an enlarged detail view of the portion A ing sharp pointed pyramids thereon which puncof the slice that has passed through the first ture the fibers. pair of rolls and showing the cubical depressions The preferred form of my device provides flatformed therein, and an adjacent portion B of the Patented May 27, 1941 I v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEAT TENDERIZER Albert S. Wilson, St. Louis, Mo., assignor of onehalf to Harry T. Floyd, St. Louis, Mo.

Application July 20, 1939, Serial No. 285,509 8 Claims. (01. 17-26) This invention relates to certain new and useful trating the relative position of the cubical proimprovements in meat tenderizers, the peculiarijections and the heating elements;

topped projections upon opposing rolls, so ar- 10 slice having the depression interposed and stagranged that the projections are opposite each gered with regard to the first set of depressions;

other when passing and make depressions from Fig. 7, a sectional view on the line 7-7 of'Fig. both sides of the slice of meat, which are sepa- 6; and rated by a thin layer of meat between the depres- Fig. 8, an enlarged detail view of a projection sions. The said projections exert positive presshowing its slant backward and its front corner sures vertical to both surfaces of the meat, which rounded. cause a lateral sliding of the fibers under such Prior devices have used sharp pointed pyramcompression, which movement of the fibers tends idal projections as above mentioned, but those to render the resulting meat more tender than it affect a tearing or puncturing action on the meat was originally. My main object is to tenderize which is not so effective in tenderizing the meat practically the whole body of the slice. I provide as is the compression which is produced by my means such as projecting cubes to make preferred construction. When my cubical opposing teeth cubical depressions in the sides of the slice by one meet opposite sides of the slice, the compression set of rollers, and then subject the partially from both sides causes a simultaneous sliding treated slice to another set of rollers which make movement of the fibers into the portion of the corresponding depressions in intermediate pormeat surrounding the respective teeth. When tions of the slice, the fibers of which are made the same slice of meat reaches the second pair of to move laterally back again or reversely, by the rolls the staggered or ofiset arrangement of the compressive action of the fiat surfaces of the opcubical projections causes cubical depression inposing cubes in the said successive operations on termediate of those formed by the first roll, and the sides of the slice, and then be subjected to effect a corresponding compression and lateral heat sufiicient to cook the meat as it passes reverse movement of the fibers on most of the through the second set of rolls, so that when it interposed portions of the meat not previously leaves the rolls it is cooked and ready to be served acted upon. This action of compression and latto the customer. eral movement of the fibers is believed to be the In attaining the above named objects I provide cause of the beneficial tenderizing result upon the hereinafter described construction and dethe meat, which is attained by my construction. scription exemplifying the preferred method of Simultaneously with the production of the cubical attaining the aforementioned objects, and in depressions in the meat while passing the second which reference is made to the accompanying pair of rolls, I subject the meat to the action of drawing. heat, such as that produced by an electric heating Fig. 1 represents a vertical sectional view of element incased in each of the second pair of rolls, two pairs of rolls having cubical opposing projecso that when the meat leaves the heated rolls it is tions arranged in circumferential and lengthwise ready for consumption, rows, and the pair of rolls below the first pair Referring to the drawing, the cubical projechaving the projections staggered or offset with retions l-l are arranged in respective rolls 22' I gard to those in the upper pair; circumferentially, and in the circumferential Fig. 2, an elevation of part of an upper and a spaces between adjacent rows are disposed relower roll of each pair, viewed from the line 2-2 spectively strips 3 of thin sheet metal which are of Figure 1 and showing part of the guiding strip sunk in these spaces between the rolls at the bases or looms; of the projections, and pass the rolls above and Fig, 3, a sectional view on the line 3--3 of Fig. below and present opposing sets of guiding strips 2 of one set of guiding strips or looms; or looms for each roll of the upper and lower pair Fig. 4, a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. of rolls. These strips form a guiding passageway 1 of the lower set of rolls shown in Fig. 1, illusfor the meat and are respectively secured 'removably by pins above the upper pair of rolls to horizontal strips 4 at the entrance of the rectangular box casing 6, and pass downward between the upper pair of rolls past horizontal bars 5 forming braces intermediate the upper and lower rolls. when they reach this bar on respective looms, the lower strips are disposed in a staggered or offset relation to the upper strips, in order to correspond with the circumferential spaces between the projections of the lower pair of rolls, the teeth I of which as stated previously, are staggered relative to those of the upper pair. The lower ends of the guiding strips are removably secured in the respective sides of the exit opening below the second pair of rolls. These loom strips pull the meat off the projections to avoid winding it on the rolls.

Referring to Fig. 5 showing the driving mechanism, the rolls are driven by worm 1 and wheel 8 drives operatively connected to the respective rolls, and-actuated by an electric motor 9 through worm HI and wheel ll. Lead wires to the motor are numbered 9'-9" respectively. The worms 1 and wheel II are mounted on a vertical shaft l2. The slow motion given to the rolls, aflords time for the compressive action of the cubical projections to produce the lateral movement of the fiber in the tenderizing treatment afforded by both pairs of rolls, and also affords time for the electric heating elements [3 in the second pair of rolls to cook properly the meat passing slowly between them.

The opposite end of my machine shown in Fig.

' 4, illustrates the driving connections of meshed spur gears l4 effecting the desired rotation toward each other of the lower pair of rolls 2'. The upper pair of rolls 2 are similarly rotated by meshed spur gears M (Fig. 2).

fixed portion of the overhanging bar supports the upper end of a vertical shaft I! on which the worms 1 and the wheel H, are mounted. The slanting engagement of the end of the spring I! with the sloping piece l8 as indicated in Fig. 5, will normally keep the joint l5 closed and the opposing rolls in operative position, as above described. vShould a bone or other obstruction pass into the entrance of the machine, the outward pressure thus caused on the upper pair of rolls, will disengage the spring catch 11 from its contact piece I8, open the pivoted front portion 6' and disconnect the operative parts. The spring catch is in duplicate on the opposite ends of the casing, and the spring i1 and the sloping contact l8 of one catch are wired by lead wires 9'9" in series with the motor, as indicated in Fig. 5. Thus when the front portion 8' is turned forwardeven slightly upon the release of the catch I1 and its contact ii, the motor will be cut out and the operative parts of the machine will instantly stop. This safety feature Y is an important part of my machine and is shown Each pair of rolls is mounted in suitable boxes on respective ends of the casing, which ends are divided and match along meeting edges is forming, with the adjacent front wall of the casing, a movable front portion 6', which is pivoted at l6 near the bottom and front at each end, so that the casing will open along the joints I! by tum ing downward the front portion 6'. Thefront rolls of the upper and lower pairs are mounted in this movable portion of the casing, and carry their respective worm wheels 8 which mesh with corresponding worms 1, as shown in Fig. 5. On the opposite ends of said rolls, the spur gears I4 and It will open their mesh connection of matching gears on the rear rolls, and similarly the worm gears 8 will disengage their mesh connection'with their respective worms I, when the pivoted front portion is turned downward in the direction of the arrow as indicated in Fig. 5. When the casing is thus opened up, the twosets of opposing looms can be readily disconnected from their removable attachment at the top and bottom portions, and the two pairs of rolls will be fully exposed and can readily be cleaned after use. This is a matter of sanitary importance.

A suitable closing means, such as an automatic engaging and disengaging catch to connect this pivoted portion with the main portion of the casing, is provided near each end wall, such as a brass spring l'l having one end fixed to the front portion 6' of the casing, and the other end bent down to engage a sloping contact piece It on the fixed portion of the casing. A suitable insulation i9-i9 insulates these contacts I! and I! from the casing. This insulation preferably forms a projection at the driving end of the casand described as the preferred way of forming such safety device. An equivalent safety catch may be employed, however.

Referring again to the electric heating elements it, they are preferably fixed in a stand 20 adjacent the open ends of the lower rolls which are shown in Fig. 4 as having enlarged journals to allow inserting the said elements into said rolls, and allow supporting them centrally therein. These elements are mounted in suitable electric and heat insulating collars 2i secured in the stand 20 and suitably wired to a source of current.

The said stand 20 is also divided at I! corresponding with the joint I! of the casing, and the front portion of the stand is also pivoted at It Fig. 2, alined with the pivot it before mentioned at the front of the casing 6'. The pivoted front portion of said stand is braced by an extension plate 28, or is otherwise connected to the pivoted front portion of the casing, and a similar spring catch may be employed to hold the split stand 20 together. when the nap connection "-4. is opened as above described, the front portion of the casing and corresponding portion of the stand 20, will turn on their common axis through the pivots l8 and I6 and allow the opening of the casing as above described. The wires connected to the heating element ll are long enough to allow this opening movement of the stand, and the front portion of the casing and corresponding portion of the stand 20 will turn on their common axis through the pivots I6 and I6, and allow the opening of the casing as above described. This spring control of the rolls allows their temporary separation when a piece of bone or other hard substance is about to enter between the rolls from either pair, especially the upper pair of rolls.

While I have described and shown four rolls arranged in upper and lower pairs, and the heating element applied to lower pair to treat the meat as it passes therefrom, it is evident that I may dispense with the upper pair of rolls and use the lower pair only, providing the eflect produced upon the meat appears to be sufllcient in effecting the tenderizing process. However, I prefer that the upper and lower pairs be used in order to extend the tenderizing process over practically the whole surface of the meat and the cave plate portion 23 extending from one bar 25 of the-*exit'downward to the bottom of the cas- 'ing, to receive the drip from the slice of meat passing the rolls. This concave. plate has slits 2'4 to receive the drip from the exit passage and deliver it to the pan 22. Both of the looms at the exit end of the said passage are braced by lower bars 25 to which the looms are removably;

secured. Below the lower rolls are partitions 21-21" inclined or perforated to receive the drip from the rolls above them, and deliver it into the said pan 22.

From the above description and the drawing it will be evident that the slice of meat entering the passageway between the looms and passing the upper ends of the opposing looms, will be engaged by theopposing teeth of the upper pair of rolls and forced to travel downward while the depressions'are made in both sides of the slice, as indicated in the upper po t on of Fig. 6. As the slice of meat travels downward under gravity and the propelling forces of the. upper pair of rolls, its lower edge will be engaged by the projections l' of the lower pair of rolls, and forced to pass down and be more completely tenderized by the formation of interposed depressions, as above described. The heating elements in said lower pair of rolls will act upon the meat passing between said lower rolls, so that when the sliceleaves the rolls and passes down the plate 23, it is tenderized and turn as above described. This is an important feature of my invention.

While I have described the rolls, as heated by electrical means, it is evident that other forms of heat such as gas, steam or other heating medium may be used.

It is also evident that the speed of the rolls may be varied and revolve faster or slower than the rate previously stated, in order to give the desired cooking effect to the meat passing between the heated rolls. Each tooth and its corresponding depression, have four sides and a terminal side, which provide ten heated surfaces on opposing projections adapted to contact the meat and distribute the. heat uniformly, and with beneficial eifect, to the meat passing between said rolls. The projections .having substantially parallel sides, and especially a backward slant as in Fig. 8, the base of each projection is not enlarged, and the number of lengthwise rows in rolls that are 2% inches outside diameter and containing 18 such rows, has been found to operate efliciently; and the meat is cooked clear through at all of the contact portionsof said projections.

While I have shown and described the rolls arranged to form a vertical passageway between the and the heating elementsare not fully warmed up, the slice of meat may be returned to the mouth of the passageway between the rolls, and passed through a second time.

The tenderizing effect by the compressive action of the opposing projections is based on the lateral movement of fibers from the pressure of the fiat top projections, first in one direction and then reversely; and such movement is more readfly produced when the meat is in its raw condition passing the upper pair of rolls. When the meat is passing the lower pair. of rolls and is subject to the cooking heat of the heating elements, the lateral movement of the fibers is not sopronounced as when they are acted upon by the pro-- jections of the upper rolls. The .tenderizing effect of the upper rolls is supplemented by further movement of the fibers reversely, as the meat passes the lower pair of re where the fully cubed slice is cooked as above described. The

combined action of the two pairs of rolls gives the tained by the use of two pairsof rolls arranged and operated as above described. It hasv been demonstrated by actual use that, -by slanting the depressions backward on the several rolls and inclined to a radius through the respective teeth, as shown in Fig. 8, and slightly rounding the obtuse forward outer comer edge 30- (about flinch. radius), the projections leave,

the meat more readily, and avoid any tendency of the meat tooling to the projections as the rolls looms,I up not confine my invention to this ar rangement nor to details of construction, except by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A meat tenderizer having in combination two pairs of rolls mounted in upper and lower pairs, the rolls of each pair mounted on opposite sides of a central plane and having fiat-topped projections arranged in lengthwise rows adapted to be disposed successively opposite each other under rotation of the rolls toward said central plane to dispose the fiat tops of said projections closely adjacent when rotatably passing, and said projections being arranged in circumferential rows that are staggered on one pair of rolls relative to the projections on the other pair of rolls.

2. A meat tenderizer comprising two pairs of rolls arranged in upper'and lower pairs, the rolls of each pair being arranged horizontally opposite each other and provided with projections in lengthwise rows that are successively disposed opposite each other under rotation, and are arranged in circumferential rows that are staggered in one pair relative to the other pair of rolls, a casing enclosing said rolls, and vertically disposed metal strips arranged in spacesbetween said rolls in two sets and secured at their upper I and lower ends in said casing to define a vertical box casing, the ends of said casing being divided to form a joint and form a movable portion with regard to a fixed portion of the casing, operative rolls mounted in both said portions and cooperating with each other when the casing is closed and exposed when the joint is opened, means including a spring catch to gnaintain normally the closed condition of thecasing, a motor having operative connection with said rolls, and electric connections for said motor arranged in series with said spring catch to stop the motor when the casing is opened. v

4. A meat tenderizer having in combination a rectangular box casing having its ends dividedby matching joints forming a movable portion pivoted at its lower front ends to allow opening said joints, two pairs of rolls arranged in upper.

4 and lower pairs each pair horizontally opposite each other and one roll or each pair being mountthe rolls being disengaged by the opening of said pivoted portion. v

5. A meat tenderiaer having in combination a casing divided into a fixed portion and a pivoted movable portion, opposing mils respectively mounted in the fixed and the pivoted movable portions, a driving motor operatively connected to said rolls, and an automatic catch normally closing said portions of the casing when engaged and having electric-contacts and electric connections for said contacts wired in series with the motor to stop the rotation of said motor when the catchis disengaged.

6. A meat tenderizer having in combination rotary rolls provided -with longitudinal and circumierential rows of cubical projections characterized by being respectively slanting with regard to radii through the respective teeth to allow oi disposing the teeth slanting backward relatively to the rotation to facilitate withdrawal from the meat engaged by said projections.

aaaaeoa I. A meat tenderiser having in combination rotary rolls provided with longitudinal and cir-,

cumierential rows of cubical projections characterised by being respectively slanting relative to radii through respectiveteeth and rounded on the obtuse outer edge of each slanting tooth to facilitate withdrawal from the meat engaged by said' projections. l

8. A meat, tenderirer having in combination a rectangularbox casing divided at its ends into a fixed portion and a movable portion having pivotal connection therewith, tenderizing rolls mounted in said casing and comprising an upper pair of rolls and a lower pair of rolls. one oi'each pair being mounted in the fixed end portion and the other in said movable portion of the casing.

. and each or the rolls mounted in the/movable portion having on one end a .worm gear and on the other end a spur gear that is normally meshed with a corresponding spur gear mounted on the horizontally adjacent opposite roll respectively in each pair that is mounted in the fixed portion 01' the casing, a vertical shaft supm rt.

ported by the fixed portion and having worms respectively engaging the adjacent worm gears on the rolls 0! the movable portion, and adapted to be disengaged therefrom by'opening said movable portion, a motor, and an operative worm and gear connection 01' the motor with said vertical 

